This week's guest is the tuner for the #23 team in the AFT Twins class, Ben Evans. A former racer with a long flat track resume, Ben was nice enough to take time from his busy schedule to talk with us after the team's podium finish in Atlanta. We talked about how he got into the sport, the challenges that come with preparing three different brands of motorcycles for the 2018 season, and his relationship with his rider, Jeffrey Carver Jr.

📸 Jodi Johnson

00:24 - Scottie Update

02:56 - Ben Evans intro

03:57 - “…not a lot of TV watchin’ or movie watchin’ for me…”

04:18 - Quick overview of the #23 team’s plans for the long six week run

05:52 - Where were you born?

06:45 - How did you get into flat track?

09:36 - Why did you pick #69?

11:23 - When did you realize you had a passion for working on bikes?

14:09 - What other riders have you wrenched for?

15:50 - “…there’s never enough hours in a day…”

16:34 - Talks about how his relationship with Jeffery Carver Jr. began

20:46 - Talks about why the two work well together

22:32 - Does the fact you ride as well, help with the trust issues between you and Carver?

24:38 - Who makes the call on what bike you ride each race?

26:40 - How hard is it to maintain the different brands of bikes?

28:15 - Talks about upcoming testing sessions

29:20 - Who sets the goals for the #23 team?

30:48 - Daytona talks

32:41 - Talks of Atlanta race weekend

34:44 - Talks about Carver running that high line just OFF THE GROOVE!

36:20 - Are there any other events you’re looking forward to going to this season?

37:22 - GRAM’s QUESTION Whats the biggest change in flat track?

39:28 - Do you have a favorite race track?

40:31 - What’s your favorite thing to eat on the road?

41:14 - Any up-and-coming racers we should have an eye on?

This week, we catch up with Kenny Coolbeth Jr., a flat track legend who recently announced he'd be retiring at the conclusion of the 2018 race season. We talked about what led him to a career racing motorcycles, take a look back on his twenty-five years of flat tracking, and talk about what is next for him after he hangs up the steel shoe.

📸 Flat Trak Fotos

00:24 - Scottie Update

01:03 - Kenny Coolbeth Jr. intro

02:17 - Scottie rambles off an insane amount of stats

03:16 - How tough was it to make the decision to retire after the 2018 season?

04:05 - Where were you born?

05:00 - Talks about the first time he ever rode a motorcycle

05:51 - What about riding a motorcycle made you realize you wanted to make it a career?

06:28 - Talks about riders he looked up to growing up

07:12 - Talked about riders he learned from

07:58 - Talks about his first race

08:58 - Talks about how his father inspired him to race

09:24 - First Grand National win

10:18 - Scottie talks about the first time he saw Coolbeth race

12:06 - Is there one particular season that sticks out to you more than others?

14:10 - You worked with a lot of great mechanics…Is there one that sticks out to you?

15:00 - What was the hardest part of the 2017 season for you?

15:35 - What did you learn from the 2017 season?

16:30 - Talks about how the opportunity to ride for Nila Racing came about

19:19 - Will you be riding an Indian Motorcycle the entire 2018 season?

20:17 - Talks about the first time throwing a leg over the FTR 750

21:15 - Talks about his training routine and studying race video

25:42 - Talks about his number plate auctions for the 2018 season

27:15 - Where you happy with the results from Daytona?

28:22 - Do you think the outcome would have been different had we raced Saturday night?

29:03 - Did the rain delay affect you or the bike set-up?

29:35 - Are you looking forward to Texas?

30:25 - Are there any goals you’ve set for yourself in your final season?

31:14 - Is there any chance you’d come back for another season if you win the title in 2018?

31:50 - What are you planning to do after flat track?

33:20 - What is the biggest change you’ve seen for flat track over your 25 year career?

34:44 - Who is a young up-and-comer you have had an eye on

35:28 - Any amateur racers we should be looking out for?

36:00 - Why did you choose #2 and #31?

36:39 - Do you have a favorite track?

37:02 - What do you do with all your trophies?

38:13 - What will you miss the most & the least after you retire?

39:44 - Who has been the best racer you ever competed against?

We caught up with Jarod Vanderkooi prior to last weekend's race in Atlanta. We talked about his expectations heading into the second round of the 2018 season, what its like to have an opportunity to ride an Indian and Harley-Davidson factory bike in a six month span, and his love for B-Dubs.

📸 Jodi Johnson

00:24 - Scottie Update

01:03 - Jarod Vanderkooi intro

01:32 - Who the hell is this?

01:55 - Where did the new nickname come from?

02:49 - How did you get into motorcycles?

03:36 - Talks of his family of racers

04:06 - The tale of ole Kill-switch Vanderkooi

05:12 - Talks about the first motorcycle races

06:11 - Talks of winning his first pro race at the Springfield Mile

06:54 - Talks about his successful 2014 season

09:28 - Rookie of the year in 2015…anything stick out?

10:40 - Expectations heading in 2017 with Richie Morris Racing

12:56 - Talks about the progression of the 2017 season

13:56 - Talks about getting the call from Indian Motorcycle to ride for Brad Baker

15:59 - Talks about the chance to ride bikes from the two factory bikes in a 6 month period

17:55 - When did you find out that you would not be returning to RMR?

20:00 - Is the training you did in Florida heading into the 2018 season going to help you?

22:36 - Talks about his mechanic for the 2018 season

23:40 - How are you communicating with the team?

24:25 - Talks about pre-season testing prior to Daytona

24:51 - How cool is it to ride for the factory team?

25:31 - What were the first impressions of the XG750?

26:19 - Talks of bouncing things off teammate Sammy Halbert

27:38 - Did you see Stevie Bonsey losing his tire in Daytona?

29:20 - Talks of his day in Daytona

32:04 - Expectations heading in Woodstock for Round 2

33:11 - Who is your toughest competition for 2018?

33:22 - What is your favorite race track?

33:56 - Why did you choose #20?

34:50 - Whats your favorite place to eat while on the road?

This week we caught up with Stevi Smith. We talked about her own racing career and what its like growing up in a flat track family. Balancing a full-time job while managing her fiance J.R. Addison's race team, she still makes time to contribute to several others in the flat track community each race season.

📸 Jodi Johnson

00:24 - Scottie Update

01:53 - Stevi Smith intro

02:56 - Whats it like growing up in Michigan?

03:36 - Talks of growing up with Scott Parker & Jay Springsteen

04:06 - How did you get into motorcycles?

05:06 - What was the first bike you rode?

05:26 - Talks of “stealing” her older brother’s number

05:58 - Did you get Bryan’s hand-me-down bikes?

06:36 - Do you have a favorite race motorcycle?

07:02 - Do you still ride and race?

07:18 - Do you have a favorite race memory?

08:05 - Did you ever get to race against Bryan?

08:46 - Why did you stop racing?

09:33 - Talks of what its like growing up in a racing family

10:18 - How did you and J.R. Addison meet?

10:56 - Do you have a favorite memory with J.R.?

11:38 - What is something people would be surprised to know about J.R. Addison?

12:21 - Talk about what it meant for Bryan to win his Grand National Championship in 2016

13:07 - Talks about the hometown reaction after Bryan’s championship

14:24 - Talks of J.R. winning Rookie of the Year in 2016

15:00 - Talks of winning the Brintlinger Award of Excellence in 2016

16:22 - Talks about starting the Brintlinger Foundation

18:49 - What was it like to see your brother rocking’ that #1 plate?

19:38 - What does Stevi Smith do in the off-season?

20:53 - Explains how to get Parker Norris to dance

22:08 - What are the expectations for the #24 team in 2018?

23:02 - Any fond memories from the 2017 racing season?

24:10 - Talks of J.R.’s struggles at the Lima Half-Mile

25:30 - What was your take on the 2018 Daytona TT?

26:58 - Talks of J.R.’s proposal after this year’s Daytona TT event

30:01 - Who is your best friend at the race track?

31:14 - Talks about her thoughts on recent AFT changes

32:32 - Who is an up-and-comer we should keep our eyes on?

32:55 - Any amateur racers we should look out for?

33:38 - What do you and J.R. do with all your trophies?

34:21 - What is your favorite race track?

35:30 - “I love hearing the box van start up…”

35:51 - Talks about her love for the Waffle House

36:51 - Talks about other things she does to support riders

37:50 - Thank yous and sign off

Caught up with 2-time Singles champion and 2-time Grand National Champion, Jake Johnson. We talked about what brought him into the sport, his extensive resume (including his brief hiatus from flat track), and his transition to Estenson Racing for the 2018 season.

📸 Jodi Johnson

00:24 - Scottie Update

00:59 - Jake Johnson intro

01:41 - Jake talks moto

02:59 - Where were you born?

03:31 - How’d you get into motorcycles?

04:27 - Did you know you always wanted to race?

05:00 - Do you remember your first win?

06:02 - Was there a racer you looked up to growing up?

07:21 - Do you feel like one of the old guys?

08:55 - Talks about his two Grand National Championships

09:50 - Talks about why he briefly stepped away from the sport after championship seasons

12:18 - Talks about how he got back into racing after stepping away

13:47 - Talks about getting the call from the factory Harley-Davidson team

15:08 - What were your expectations coming into 2017 with Harley-Davidson?

17:03 - “Thats what keeps me going, those championships and those wins”

18:24 - Talks about his day at the 2017 Buffalo TT event

20:49 - What point did you know you weren’t coming back to ride for Harley-Davidson?

21:27 - Talks of how Estenson came into the picture for 2018

23:13 - When did you know for sure the Estenson deal was a real thing?

24:06 - “I hope to be with Estenson throughout the rest of my career”

27:00 - Talks of relationship with mechanic, Teddy McDermitt

28:03 - Are you guys focusing strictly on Yamahas for the 2018 season?

30:03 - Talks through his take on the 2018 Daytona TT

35:15 - Do you just stay focused on the National events?

37:07 - Talks of instructing at the Texas Tornado Boot Camp in Austin, TX

39:30 - Who gets the victory lap after your next win?

40:13 - Any riders coming up we should keep an eye on?

41:05 - What do you do with all your trophies?

41:42 - Do you have a favorite trophy?

42:13 - What track are you looking forward to the most in 2018?

42:21 - How cool would it be to win a grand national on a Yamaha?

This week we catch up with Dave and Rhonda Waters. A great conversation with two great people who have been supporting flat track for decades. We talked about how they met, why they became team owners, and the challenges that come with balancing a full-time business along with two race programs.

00:24 - Scottie Update

00:42 - Dave & Rhonda Water intro

02:21 - Dave’s flat motorcycle racing background

03:21 - When Rhonda met Dave

03:40 - “I was too good, so they made me race with the guys…”

05:03 - What drew Rhonda into motorcycle racing

06:04 - Dave talks of current state of the sport

07:06 - What made you want to start a race team?

09:19 - Talks of being the only team running a KTM program

10:25 - Is Wyatt going to be riding the Yamaha more than the KTM (in 2018)?

11:25 - Was the 2017 with Wyatt a successful one in your mind?

12:14 - “…I didn’t know what Wyatt really looked like until I met him in Daytona…”

14:38 - Talks of what led to Wyatt jumping to a the AFT Twins class

15:41 - Story behind Sandriana Shipman joining the Waters Auto Body team

18:32 - Talks about the teammates meeting each other in Salem, OR at the One Moto Show

19:19 - Scottie lists the past riders who have rode for Dave and Rhonda

20:06 - Talks about 2018 plans for the team

21:10 - Talks about goals/expectations for the first two races

22:17 - What is your favorite race track?

24:15 - Funny Ryan Wells story

25:45 - Chad Cose jumping like a spider monkey

26:35 - Thoughts on the podcast

28:27 - If you were put in charge of AFT, what would be the first thing you would change?

Caught up with Bronson Bauman this a week before the season opener in Daytona. We talked about what its like racing for legendary tuner Bill Werner, his girlfriend (who also races), and his expectations for the upcoming season.

📸 Jodi Johnson

00:24 - Scottie update

01: 52 - Bronson intro

02:15 - What have you been doing since winning Flat Out Friday?

04:12 - Talks of being a take-charge kinda guy

04:52 - What is it like to race for Bill Werner?

07:12 - How did you get into flat track racing?

08:46 - How is Illinois livin’ different from California

10:22 - Bronson walks us through his Flat Out Friday

14:18 - Talks about TT and woods riding

17:12 - Thoughts on 2017

22:19 - Talks about his offseason training

24:12 - If I win my 1st grand national, I’m taking 5-6 victory laps

24:45 - Talks of how he met his girlfriend, Allyx Camp

26:22 - Thoughts on the one bike qualifying from Flat Out Friday

27:15 - Who is your toughest competition in 2017?

27:47 - Do you have a favorite track?

28:24 - Why are you #37?

30:01 - What do you do with all your trophies?

30:56 - “Free candy, free puppies”

31:33 - Vanderkooi distraction and Bronson’s take on the new nickname

32:30 - Funniest moment from 2017

32:50 - If you were put in charge of the AFT series, what would be the first thing you’d change?

33:50 - Why we do, what we do…

This week, we put in a call to the man at the top, the CEO of American Flat Track, Michael Lock. We get to know the man behind the flat track resurgence, what drew him to the series and motorcycles in general, and expectations for the upcoming AFT season.

00:24 - Scottie update

00:47 - Michael Lock intro

01:30 - Talks of Flat Out Friday event

04:38 - Where are you from originally?

05:20 - How did you get into motorcycles?

09:05 - Talks of what inspired him to become a leader

10:55 - Talks of how his relationship with American Flat Track began

14:00 - What were your first impressions of the sport?

17:01 - Talks about changes to the sport over the past few years

19:39 - “…some things that are going to happen in the next 60-90 days are going to be game-changers…”

20:57 - Talks about changes to the race format in 2017

25:26 - Talks of the future of the Superprestigio

27:05 - What has Michael Lock and AFT been up to this off-season?

29:02 - Is there a reason behind why you have to ride one particular brand of motorcycle per event?

34:33 - “with no disrespect to the twins guys, my favorite three races (of 2017) were Singles races…”

36:17 - Teases a major AFT Singles announcement coming in the next week

37:04 - Michael talks of the advisory group and what it means to him and AFT

40:38 - Talks of new multi-year deal with NBC

44:15 - What else can we expect in 2018?

46:00 - “Grams gotta know…”

50:36 - “…I want the best riders in the world competing in American Flat Track…”

Caught up with THE Johnny Lewis last week. We talked about the inspiration behind JL10 Training, his supermoto days, and his passion for motorcycles and the sport that has had an enormous impact on his life. This man has his hands in just about every aspect of flat track racing and loves to share his knowledge.

00:24 - Scottie update

01:20 - Johnny Lewis intro

02:40 - what have you been up to since Perris?

03:32 - “it’s one of those roller coasters you don’t ant to get off of...”

04:42 - what is the story behind JL10 Training?

07:51 - Talks of Cole Zabala

09:21 - Talks of Dallas Daniels

10:23 - “flat track is a very secretive sport”

11:26 - how do you customize training programs?

13:55 - “the motorcycle is a tool”

14:38 - Talks of sponsoring Chase Saathoff

17:14 - Talks of supermoto day’s

19:39 - how did you get into motorcycles?

21:35 - how do you feel about riding the most brands of twins into main events?

23:35 - Talks about the opportunity to race an Indian in 2017

28:20 - talks about the race finish in Perris, CA

32:37 - talks about partnership with RMR for 2018

35:44 - Johnny Lewis on an Indian again in 2018???

37:45 - ever think about running a full season?

41:00 - Talks of vegan lifestyle on the road

42:18 - funniest moment of 2017

43:22 - if you were in charge, what would be the first thing you’d change?

45:45 - Who is your toughest competition?

46:42 - What do you do with your trophies?

49:14 - What is your favorite track?

Last week, while everyone else watched some other "flying tomato" capture gold in the 2018 Winter Olympics, I spent my time catching up with the 2017 AFT Singles Champion, Kolby Carlile. We got his take on last year's roller coaster season, talked about what he's done to build upon that success for 2018, and even discuss future plans of a possible twins ride for 2019.

00:24 - Scottie update

02:06 - Kolby Carlile intro

02:43 - What the heck were you doing in North Dakota?

03:46 - Talks about his move out to Phoenix

04:19 - Have you been riding a lot this off-season?

05:26 - How’d you get started in flat track?

06:19 - Talks of family supporting his racing

07:45 - Scottie’s helmet shop visit

08:54 - Thoughts on Lima race

11:11 - Talks of adversity in Calistoga

12:04 - Talks of tuner Andrew Butler

14:22 - who is going to be your stiffest competition this year?

16:04 -Talks of team dynamics and new teammate

17:28 - Talks of old teammate, Sammy Halbert

19:24 - Talks of future with Estenson (Twins?)

21:00 - Will you be racing non-nationals?

21:14 - “...I’m gonna be on an Indian...” w/ audible Scottie gasp

22:45 - talks about pressure to keep the #1 plate

24:08 - what’s your favorite race track?

24:58 - Buffalo Bill

25:55 - If you were put in charge of AFT, what’s one thing you would change?

26:51 - Supercross talk

27:32 - What do you do with all your trophies?

28:22 - Talks of that Tommy Duma Championship ring

29:05 - “Its such a dream come true…”